The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce learned their recently launched www.downtownSI.nyc website was selected as the “Best of Staten Island.” The win comes with a $5,000 prize, a feature in an upcoming marketing campaign and, of course, bragging rights.

The win came in the “Best of the Boroughs” competition, which was conducted by Neustar — the organization selected by the City of New York to manage its .NYC top-level domain. The Best of the Boroughs is a citywide contest that celebrates the local businesses, organizations and individuals that make New York City, and each borough, a unique place to live. The competition aims to find the best .NYC websites that embody the local community and economy. One winner is chosen from each of the five boroughs.

The competition was judged on several components:– Public support and voting– Overall design, content, and navigation of the website– Value of the site to the community

This year, the organizers received over 60 total submissions and counted 14,000+ public votes. The www.downtownSI.nyc website was announced as the Staten Island winner at a ceremony where Chief Technology Officer for New York City M. Alby Bocanegra presented the award to Janet Dugo, who is project manager for the Chamber’s initiatives in Downtown Staten Island. The website is made possible through funding awarded by the NYC Department of Small Business Services’ (SBS) Neighborhood 360° grant program, which works with community-based organizations to revitalize local commercial districts.

Chamber President Linda Baran said, “We’re delighted to win this award. It’s a welcome recognition of all the hard work our team has put into developing the website. It’s also recognition of the wonderful neighborhood itself. Downtown Staten Island is a great place to live, work and play, and this award reflects that.” She added, “The $5,000 prize will provide a nice boost to our efforts there.”

“Strong neighborhoods are the backbone of our city, and the $1.54 million in investments to Staten Island is going a long way towards revitalizing key commercial corridors,” said Gregg Bishop, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. By working with the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, we are responding to local needs to support small business growth and build more vibrant neighborhoods for all New Yorkers. We are thrilled that this investment has resulted in an award-winning project.”

The Chamber launched the site as part of its work promoting the small businesses that make up the Downtown Staten Island commercial corridor on Bay Street through SBS’ Neighborhood 360° grant program. Other projects led by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce as part of the program include daily street cleaning service, installation of holiday lighting and street banners, tree bed improvements, and a storefront enhancement program.

About the NYC Department of Small Business Services’ Neighborhood 360° Grant ProgramThe Neighborhood 360° grant program was launched by SBS to identify, develop, and launch commercial revitalization projects in partnership with local stakeholders. In 2017, SBS’ Neighborhood 360° grant program awarded $1.54 million to the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, Staten Island Arts and 100 Gates Project to fund revitalization projects in Downtown Staten Island. For more information on Neighborhood 360°, visit www.nyc.gov/neighborhood360.

About the Staten Island Chamber of CommerceWith over 100 years experience, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce is the largest and most influential business organization on Staten Island, working to improve the economic climate and expand business opportunities in the borough. For more information, visit www.sichamber.com.

About the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS)SBS helps unlock economic potential and create economic security for all New Yorkers by connecting New Yorkers to good jobs, creating stronger businesses, and building vibrant neighborhoods across the five boroughs. For more information, visit nyc.gov/sbs, call 311, and follow SBS on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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PHOTO CAPTION: Janet Dugo, project manager for the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, accepts the $5,000 prize awarded to the Chamber for its www.downtownSI.nyc website in the “Best of the Boroughs” competition from New York City’s Chief Technology Officer M. Alby Bocanegra.